Drama Circle Take All the Honours At Tubbercurry

Sligo Drama Circle swept the honours at the Tubbercurry Drama Festival with their production of Tennessee Williams’ play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. The Sligo production won the premier award – the Canon Gildea Trophy – in the open competition for full-length plays. The Jim Wynne Cup for the best producer was awarded to Liam Mc Kinney; the award for the best actress of the week went to Maria Mc Dermottroe and the best actor of the week was Tony Wehrly.

The group, with its sights set on an All-Ireland title, travels to Claremorris and Ballyshannon as well as to festivals at Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone, and Scarriff, Co. Clare. Adjudicator at the Tubbercurry Festival, Mr. Scott Marshall, lavished high praise on the Sligo production at the closing of the drama week on Sunday night. Commenting on the set, he said it paid meticulous attention to detail, and this was what the theatre was all about – one hundred per cent effort. Paying tribute to the producer, Mr. Mc Kinney, the adjudicator said the production was full of imaginative touches and sustained effort. It was obvious that Mr. Mc Kinney had a deep knowledge and understanding of Williams’ work.

Remarking on the performance of Maria Mc Dermottroe, Mr. Marshall said many actresses would attempt the part, but few ever achieved the reality of the role. Complimenting Tony Wehrly, Mr. Marshall said the most difficult art of the theatre was the “feeder” role, and Mr. Wehrly had achieved a splendid balance particularly in his scenes with Maggie and with the father. Mr. Wehrly had never lapsed for a moment, even though the role was a most difficult one.

Cormac Sheridan, who played “Big Daddy” was also praised. Mr. Marshall said when the actor came on stage one was reminded of Burl Ives, but Mr. Sheridan soon proved that he was able to develop in his own individual way the mammoth scale of the character. Dee Gallagher, who played “Big Mamma”, was not the big imposing figure one associated with the part in a physical sense, but when she appeared on stage she immediately captured the part in every other way, taking control of the audience who were held breathless by her quieter scenes.

Margaret Monaghan, in the role of “Mae”, in many ways produced the performance of the night, Mr. Marshall went on, and her every gesture illuminated the maternal nature of the character. The Sligo group was awarded 12 marks and now need only to win at one of the remaining festivals to qualify for the All-Ireland Finals. Sligo Drama Circle wone the national title in 1970 with its production of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”, also directed by Mr. Liam Mc Kinney, who has twice won the All-Ireland Best Producer award.

from The Sligo Champion, March 14th, 1975